Hulla Bullah in "IT"

So it looks like in the face of another 'slowdown', college campuses across India are suddenly not seeing truckloads of students being recruited...as had seemingly become the norm.

Panic Panic - you've spent 4 years studying whatever and now you just might not be making it to that oh-so-lucrative IT career. My take: It's all for the better.

I say - GET OVER this "IT craze" folks......honestly, this is the best time to de-machine-ize yourself, step out of the zombie atmosphere and rat race..and figure out what you really want to do.
The problem: people think you get a job in IT - and the next thing is you're jet setting across the world - visiting exotic places and raking in some moolah too.
The reality:
--> You might be jet setting somewhere, but what the heck are you doing? A lot of times, people are so desperate to go "onsite" that they agree to do any crappy work - and then go there, realize what's happening and start cribbing that they don't have the "role" they want.

-->Most times, there is NO "roadmap" for an individual i.e. the reality in a company having like 85000 employees is that HR or the Resource Manager may give the gyaan that "we have a plan..a roadmap for you. You'll do A for the first 6 months and then you'll go to B from where you can continue to do C". Ya right!

--> There's no "grooming" being done - that's what i think is one of the biggest problems today. Scores and scores of students are getting recruited - they're trained technically - they're whizkids when it comes to solving technical problems.
But soft skills and etiquette??!!! How to present yourself....how NOT to pick your nose in public....how to resist speaking in regional languages when in the presence of the client (or in fact, in the presence of fellow employees of other regions)......how NOT to wear formal shirt/pant with sports shoes for God's sake...the list can go on and on.

Operation Revival...Again

Okay okay, so I went through a phase yet again: didn't blog, didn't feel like restarting coz wasn't inpsired (reality: pure unadulterated laziness)...actually didn't have the time to (reality: didn't make the time - who wants to open the laptop again after sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours during the day "working"???)

So why today then? Vellllll…..weather’s great, just had a hot cuppa tea and everyone around is smiling. Reality: am in office bored out of my life sitting in front of a computer with no work whatsoever; Have been reading blogs since the morning (my favourites: http://youthcurry.blogspot.com, http://www.whatay.com) ..hence figured might as well scribble a few things myself.

How Do They Do that?!

Contemplations from Florida...

It ceases to baffle me how Reality Shows here are just soooooo pervasive. I mean really.....People seem to have no problem revealing/sharing all to the world aroud them.
Most seem to do it for want of fame...
Others seem to do it to try to prove something to someone...
And then there are those who seem to do it as a way to convince themselves of their worth...

There are "Makeover" shows to help you look good - supposedly on the inside as well.
So if you've been through something traumatic or are going through a tough phase or are just plain bored/depressed in life, then with new clothes, a new hairstyle and good makeup, hey presto! It's the new beautiful you...yaeeeeee!

Then in the "Relationship" shows:
Men battle men in the hopes of impressing their Lady Love - through sheer display of materialistic wealth: big house + many cars + lavish dinners + ....(you get the picture) = a chance at a happy life

Women battle women in the hopes of capturing the heart of their supposed Soulmate: If he thinks she's not thin enough, she'll stop eating; if he thinks she's not dressed right, she'll get it right ("right"="skimpier"); she'll pout and cry and be mean to all the other girls - just so she can win "her" man.

And for those who lose out...well, they always get to hear the "It's not you....it's me" line at the end as they go away disappointed at losing the battle....

Sunday April 20, 7.40am @ London
“Operation Revival”

So I’ve been on a hiatus on my blogging – I haven’t blogged in what seems like light years! Unfortunately there’s no valid reason other than the usual “very little time” stuff…..but seriously, I guess it’s just that after spending 9 hours a day in front of a computer at work, I’m yet to get passionate enough of blogging to have to come home and make some time to sit in front of another machine and blog away.

However, now that I have a laptop of my own I keep telling myself I really have no excuse to not blog. In fact, I’ve told (and keep telling) all those who ask me about my blog that I will get back very soon.

And finally, the day hath arrived. I am putting in an entry – the first one, I hope, of many more to come. Sitting comfortably currently at London’s Heathrow airport (en route to the You Yess of Yai for work), I have 3 hours to kill. I haven’t had much sleep on the previous 9.5 hour flight …and I didn’t eat too much either….Then I step off the plane into the oh-so-glooomy English weather ….and finally Mr. Hubby isn’t around right now to hear my comments/cribbing/critiques/suggestions .......but then there’s the “blog” – ahhh an outlet for my frustration/tiredness/relief blah blah

Bad Movie Hungama!

I like to think i have good taste in movies.....
I like movies that make me think and where i have to listen to enjoy the movie......movies like "Snatch", "The Usual Suspects", 'Shawshank Redemption" are movies that make me go "Wow!"...

But then sometimes i feel like watching crappy movies....or rather, i start watching a movie, realize it's crappy, and yet still continue to watch it!
Like over the past few weekends, i've been watching movies where the underlying theme is mostly about 2nd/3rd generation Indians who have grown up in the USA - the issues they grapple with blah blah:
So "American Chai" and "American Born Confused Desi" are the movies i started off with.
I don't know if it's me that's cynical or if really this is how things are but it's irritating that the most common underlying themes are:
--Children of Indian Origin (CIOs) born and brought up in USA -> Want to become something other than Enginners/Doctors E.g. Musicians/Professional Dancers -> Parents against it since it is not the 'right thing to do' (What will society say??) -> CIOs rebel -> Secretly study but tell parents they're studying to become a doctor -> Then reveal truth just before graudation -> All hell breaks loose

--CIOs under pressure to get married -> Parents suggest 'Arranged Marriage' -> Explain to their CIOs how "Beta, love will happen after marriage" -> CIOs rebel ->May throw major tantrums/May run away from home/Marry someone of only their choice (foreigner mostly)

--Most CIOs depicted as being absolute "Yo whatz up" with total disregard of culture/awareness of any Indian customs -> "Identity Crisis" screams out at you from the TV

--Indians who are born and brought up in India and go to study in the USA are depicted as being goofy/nerdy/with very oily hair (this is the guys)

Random Muses...Of the Corporate Kind

ü More number of years of experience in an industry does not necessarily make you a better manager

ü It’s easy to get into a comfort zone; to go with the flow - just do enough to get by, and in turn feel threatened when you meet someone (man or woman) who’s motivated and willing to go the extra mile

ü An organization I am familiar with insists that all its employees average 9.5 hours at the office every week – it’s supposed to increase productivity, help in bonding, blah blah

My take:
-->When there’s less work to do, people find ways to goof off: When they’re not taking 2 hour coffee breaks, employees go to movies in office time; Or go home for a few hours and then come back.
-->Employees sometimes just stay back in office - after all, there’s good food, access to the Internet and most probably a gym and ping pong table too!


ü As long as you don’t speak out i.e. as long as you don’t voice your own opinion (at some point in your corporate life), you will eventually become a sitting duck, who nods his/her head to whatever their Manager says

ü A near perfect looking resume still does not tell you much about the person – It would be the body language of the person that said the most

ü Skills in Microsoft Powerpoint and Excel are extremely important. You might be the Knowledge Guru in your domain; but it’s equally important to know how to format a document (paragraph justification, consistent fonts and size), use correct grammar and present it well

ü Don’t be swayed by the decision of the majority; be “alert” - observe those around, and listen carefully; and sometimes, it’s good to hold back a little and not blurt out those words you’re just dying to say (good or bad!).

Random Muses

Free.....is all you gotta be
Dream dreams no one else can see
Sometimes ya wanna run away
But you never know what might be comin' round your way
yeah yeah yeah.....

So sang Bryan Adams....one of my favourite songs. I get the feeling of this genuine positiv vibe in it.

A few of the people I've met so far make me wonder about this believing in yourself thing. What if you believe in yourself so much you refuse to acknowledge certain realities??!! So this character I came across struck me as a good possbility for an indepth psychology study: Now now, I'm not mocking him.....or being condescending...just that i couldn't help making some observations. He reminisces much about the past..how he was exceptional in his previous organization and how, he feels, he left that organization because he'd already achieved 'everything' there .So now he's here rather frustrated in his current assignment...doesn't feel like he's getting to do big things (although he's not sure what 'big things' should be)....thinks most colleauges around him speak such bad english that he can't help his English getting worse (!!).......blah blah. It's like everytime I talk to him, there's everything so wrong with the world around him.....start to get a headache!